Ionization chamber



4, 1949. v I H, ROOF 2,458,099

IONIZATION CHAMBER Filed Oct. 19, 1945 Irv VEN TOR HA ROLD D. Roop FOR THE FIRM A TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNIT ED ,5 TAT ES PATENT OFFICE IONIZATION CHAlVlBER Harold D. Boon, Los Angeles, Calif. Application October 19, 1945,, Serial No. 623334 10 Claims. (01. 250-435 My invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for increasing ionization effects in irradiated gases and has particularreference to the increase in sensitivity or X-ray sensitive devices, suchas ionization-chambers.

X-ray are widely used inthe examination and inspection of engineering material todetermine the structure thereof or the flaws therein. The

customary methods of application areconfined to radiography or fluoroscopy. I have found that the expensive, complicated, and elaborate equipment used in radiography orthe fluorescent screens and handling devices employed in industrial fiuoroscopy may be replaced usually by a simple means for transmitting a beam of X-rays through the material or specimen in question and interposing in the emergent beam an X-raysensitive device, such as an ionization chamber. For example, in my'copending application, Serial No. 623,335, filed October 19; 1945, is disclosed a comparative system whereby the intensity of the aforesaid emergent beam is compared in intensity with a similar beam transmitted through a' standard piece of material or a reference specimen. In such a system, two ionization chambers may be disposed respectively in the emergent beams and their outputs compared to indicate whether the material or specimen in question is acceptable as compared with the standard material or specimen. I have found that such an arrangement constitutes a sensitive and reliable means whereby X-rays may be employed, not only to reveal quickly and automatically the presence of voids, flaws, inclusions, etc., in any material, but also to perform functions practially impossible of achievement by radiography or fluoroscopy.

It is desirable to employ X-ray sensitive devices of maximum sensitivity. The present invention is concerned with an improved ionization chamber and includes among its objects the provision of a novel method and apparatus for increasing the sensitivity of previously-known ionization chambers, as well as the design of an extremely compact multiple-element ionization chamber which enables a saturated condition to be maintained in a large volume of gaswithout the use of excessively high voltages. Generally stated, it is an object of the present invention to increase the effectiveness of ionizing radiations and to increase the ionization of an irradiated gaseous substance between charged electrodes.

priate employment of a fluorescent material or a phosphor in contact with the substance. A phosphor may be defined as a material that exhibits luminescence when in astate of excitation. When the intensity of the radiation emitted by a material exceeds. the intensity of the radiation of the same wave length from a black .bodywof the same temperature, the radiation may be termed luminescence. Thephosphors with which the present invention is particularly concerned are those which emit considerable amounts of ionizing radiation in the farultravi'olet region. Some of the phosphors presently available have this property, albeit that they are designed primarily to convert invisible radiation into a visible form. Further, however, phosphors can be designed to emit a preponderance of ultra violet radiation andt'heseare of even greater value in the present invention. When such phosphors are excitedbl X-rays; a supplementary ionizing radiation of considerable intensity can be generated. Thus; by disposing such a phophor in Contact with a gas or other ionizable substance and exposing the phosphor and the substance to ionizing radiation,

it is possible greatly to "increase the resultin ionization.

i It is an object of the present invention to employ such a phophor to increase the effect of. ionizingradiations upon a substance; such as a non-responsive devices to increase greatly the sensitivity thereof. k

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident-to those skilledin the art from the ment. l

Referring to the drawing, which suggests one following description of an exemplary embodiembodiment for purpose of illustration:

F I is a utility view showing an ionization chamber or the invention used as an Xray sensitive device; I i

Fig. 2 is a top: view of the ionization chamber with thecover removed; and

I have found that the effect of ionizing radiations on a substance, such as a gas, can be markedly and unexpectedly increased by appro beam of electromagneticradiation, suggested by Still another object of the invention is usual ionization chamber contains a pair of spaced plate electrodes bounding a gas-filled space and energized by a high voltage unidirec tional source of potential.

A saturating voltage is used and the ions produced by the X-rayirra-- diation of the gas are caused'toflow to one of the electrodes to establish a measurable electric current therebetween which varies with the inten sity of the emergent or transmitted beam and which can be used to determine the intensity of this emergent or transmitted beam, either directly or by comparative methods.

The details of the preferred ionization chamber 9 are best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Referring thereto, the ionization chamber comprises a flanged cylindrical side wall I 5 closedat its lower end by a lower plate [6 sealed by a gasket IT and retained in place by screws l8 threaded into the lower flange. The upper end of the side wall i5 is closed by a ring I 9 providing an opening transversed by a thin non-porous window 24! formed of any metal or other material which will transmit the 'X-rays of the incident or transmitted beam without undue absorption. The ring !9 is sealed with respect to the upper flange of the side wall I 5. by a gasket -2| and is held in place by screws 22. The structure thus far described comprises a housing, indicated generally by the numeral 23 and providing a chamber 24 which is spect to the member 40 by a screw it providing a clamping nut 44. The central rod electrode 32 is similarly insulated by two of the bushings 42 clamped between nuts 45 and 4t threaded to the rod.

These three electrodes 30, 3i, and 32 of the primary electrode system are electrically connected together and to one terminal of a source of unidirectional saturating voltage, not shown.

This 'may be accomplished by a suitable cable connection, not shown, joined to a threaded memher 4! providing a chamber closed by a thin disc of insulating material 48. A conductor 69 terminates in a contact Ell at the center of this disc and extends through an opening iii of the parti tion 38 'tdconnect with the electrodes of the primary electrode system, as by being electrically bounce-ted to and retained by the nuts it and it.

The'tubular electrodes 33 and 3d of the secondary electrode system Zare supported by three similarly grooved supporting members 52 disposed equidistant about the axis of the rod elec trode 32 and between the members dd, as best shown in Fig. 2. Each of the members 52 pro- 'lvidesa large groove 53 receiving, without elecadapted to be filled with a gaseous substance confined therein, either before attachment of the upper cover structure or delivered thereto by any suitable means, such as a pipe 25, the flow being aided, if desired, by a pump 26.

Inside the housing 23 are disposed two sets or systems of oppositely-charged electrodes, respectively designated as a primary electrode system and a secondary electrode system. The primary electrode system is shown as comprising an interstitial electrode structure including coaxial tubular electrodes and 3|, as well as a central rod electrode 32. The secondary electrode system is shown as-comprising an interstitial electrode structure including coaxial tubular electrodes 33 and 34, respectively interposed between electrodes 39, 3! and 13!, 32 in a manner to pro vide a plurality of concentric annular spaces 35 of substantially equal width.

All of the electrodes are coaxially supported from a transverse plate or partition 36 secured and electrically connected to the side wall E5. The tubular electrodestfland 3| are shown as resting in annular grooves 31 and 38 formed in each of three metal support members Each member 40 provides a groove 4| substantially wider and deeper than the grooves 31 and 38 to receive the lower end of the tubular electrode 33, with an intervening space 'sufi'icient to prevent electrical contact. The members 40 are spaced equally about the central axis of the rod elec trode 32, as shown in Fig. 2, and each member is supported by apair of porcelain bushings 42 on opposite sides of the partition 36, which bushings areheld withrespect thereto and with retrical contact, the lower end of the tubular electrode 3|, and each is supported by a pair of the j bushings 42 held in place by screw 5d and nut 55. The electrodes 33, 34 are thus electrically member 5! constructed similarly to the member 4! previously described, the conductor 55 passing through an opening 53 of the partition 35.

Due to the electrical connections involved,

high electrostatic fields are established across each of the concentric annular spaces 35. While various gradients can be employed, about 750 volts per centimeter will be found quite satisfactory. The construction thus far described can. be employed as an ionization chamberwithout the hereinafter described coatings and it has many advantages over conventional ionization chambers due to the multiple-element construction and to the fact that this construction enables a saturated condition to be maintained in.

a large volume of gas without the use of excessively high voltages. This arrangement also makes possible the construction of very small ionization. chambers performing, to all intents and purposes, the function of considerably larger The gaseoussubstance within the chamber 24 i of the housing 23 maybe air or, preferably, a gaseous substance of relatively high molecular weight, such as Krypton, Xenon, etc, or a relatively dense vapor, such as carbon tetrachloride, etc. If the device is used without the hereinafter described phosphor coatings, the X-rays of the incident or transmitted beam will pass through the window 20 and ionize'the gaseous substance 7 in the intercommunicating annular spaces 35.

These-ions will move to one or the other set of electrodes, dependingupon the circuit connecamp tions of the ionization chamber, and the resulting: ionization currents; totalled; in a the current fliiw through conductors 49, 156% will be a .function or the intensity vofrthextransmitted .or in-' cidentbeani of radiation.

The sensitivity of the device hereinafter .disclosed can 'be remarkablyiincreasedby disposing a suitable phosphor within the chamber 24 and preferablylin contact with the gaseous-substance therein. As previously mentioned, the preferred phosphors are materials excitable by the incident radiation to produce relatively large quan:-- tities of radiation in the ultra violet range; irrespective of whether some portion of this radiation is in the visible spectrum. Even commonlyknown phosphors can be employed to produce a very marked increase in sensitivity, e. g., zinc sulflde (ZnS), calcium tungstate (CaWOl), anthra cene, quinine sulfate, etc. A phosphor composed of zinc cadmium sulfate activated by silver and quenched with nickel is particularly effective, a d o r ph sp ors an be s e fically c m,- pounded to accentuate the propertyot producing, relatively large quantities of radiation ,the ultra .violet: range, and such, phosphors will: be found even: more effective for the purposes of, the present invention.

There-are various ways of maintaining suchua phosphor in contact with the gaseous substance.v In the ,preilerred embodiment, thin coatings of the phosphor are applied on allor at. least some of the electrode surfaces In Fig. 3, these P1105? phor coatings are indicated generally by the numeral .60, bein sh w e tly exa erated in thickness ,for purpose of clarity and beingshown: Y

as applied to the internal surface of .thetubular dent or transmitted radiation, whether or not varied by passage through thematerial or speci-' men l4 toinclude secondary radiation, enters the chamber 2.! through the window 20. As: before, a portion, of this incident or transmitted; radiation isaintercepted by thetmolecules .of the gaseous substance to ionize same and establish a small ionization current through conductors 49, 55.

However, this portion of the radiation is smallas compared with the remaining portion of the radiation. which isnot lthus usefully absorbed and which is available to excite the phosphor of: the coatings on which it falls. Such excitation of the phosphor produces substantial quantities of ionizing radiation, hereinafter termed as a supplementary ionizing radiation, which is available additionally to ionize .the gaseous substance in much the same manner as did: the. incident X-rays.. This supplementary ionizing radiation is of substantial intensity and: the ions" produced thereby will increase the, ionization current through conductors 419, 56, very substantially; as will be later exemplified, with a resultant phenomenal increase in the sensitivity of an ionization chamber of given volume, With properly designed phosphors, the supplementary ionizing radiation will include large quantities of radiation in the ultra. violet, region and substantial quantities in the, far ultra fvi'olet 'region, even though a portion of" the: radiation: may be in the radiatiomistusnallyareduced-withoutperceptible;

pared withitheebsencerof such phcsphorican ,;be.

readily-'1 demonstrated; Foryexample, the following results have been obtained fromzasimple twoelectrode ,ionization,chamber,,.theelectrodesbein interstitial: and consisting, of, two sheets of alumin'u'zniwire screen 5"' x =8, the screen being: composed: ofTwire; raving; diamete v,or 0.010" .withtenlmeshesliper inch. The ,axis of the trans.- mitted or incident beam of X-rays was normal to the screen electrodes; a constructionwhichcan be. employed without departing from the: spirit of the present invention. The following table indicates variations of the ionizing currents (reportedain microamperes) two electrode spac- -ings and with theelectrodes uncoated in re i st ne enda e e in the when We h s an: emele d he i 1. a t Se. its withemoe de takenas unity and the 'i'acto'rs of inase 5: t e ee d 'l'e eet des a e in ca in a e e ewiea el l Electrode 1 a onization; 'Factorof $15 1 8, Coating f cilrreii t' Increase v Inches i $40 1 'icl J ,fjm -3 -96 1 as, as as, 3.5

The above, ,test results are, significant. for a nurn: r ofrqa'sons. In, the ,first place, they indite omanc e e es ni 'm et n ur with, the coatedelectrodes as compared. with the uncqatedl lectrodes." lnfthe ,second place, these pected because a lesser volume of, is, present between the electrodes. ,In the above test results,

e was approximately. halved. However,

the vo an entirely: ,di tjierent resultyas obtained by the use of phosphor-coated electrodes. Here, the

total ionizing current incre esestasthe spacing of the electrodes, is decreased. The exact explanae t etqmbi ephen mene i n te r e en k wne n qsnho hen BKQ- e n a ur o ni ing; radiation and it mee s that, assuch, it-

r ss adatoth nte se-swam aw t s m ext n u hn w s-e tai i the em e w a an him or n r e i t d by ne -n osphors, bu t is k own tha m pho emit radiation e ending tar intothe ultraviolet range It isgalso known that a rhas an increas ingly appreciable opacity to wave lengths shorter thanv 2200-2000 A. If radiation of this wave length is. emitted. by the phosphor used, asfurther explanation is:.provided' for the increase in ionization current the distance between the electrodes is decreased. It should be understood,

however. thatthe invention isnot limited by-these possible explanations: of the observed phenomena.

were results are notflli'mited to" screen.

electrodes; as evidenced-bathe following test results whenustnaflatpiatesfot aluminum 0.040

d thisconn'ection, the above, table reports the ionizationcurrent atvarious electrode spacings (in inchesland indicatesthe volume of the inter-electrode space (in-cm. the total ionization chamber including; a housing containing.

said gaseous substance and providing a pair of electrodes electrically insulated'from each other anud adapted for connection to a source of poeous'substance to'anionizing radiation, said ion-i'- "substance therein, said housing including a. thin zation current (in microamperesrand the ,varia 5 tential to establish an electrostatic field there'-. tion in ionization currentsper'cubic.centimeter between, at least a portion of said gaseous subor current density (microamperes/cm. when stance being disposed between said electrodes; employing uncoated' electrodes and electrodes and a phosphor between said electrodes in concoated with ZnS. tact with said gaseous substance, said phosphor Electrode fifiiiiigg 522E213 i tiiiy jf, r d Space l e c a bdes l g rbd es eTec rbil s al ensi s Inches timeters I I Fromythe test results reported in this table, being excitable by said ionizing radiation to proitwill be noted that, when uncoated'electrodes duce ultra violet radiation. are used; the current density is the same, within 4. In a device for exposing a gaseous substance limits of experimental error, for any spacing. to anionizing radiation, thecombination of: a This is normal for any ordinary ionization chamhousing containing said gaseous substance and her when the intensity of radiation is kept at a providing a pair of electrodes electrically ingiven level, as it was in the reported test runs. sulatedfrom each other and adapted for con On the other hand, the phosphor-coated elecnection to a source of potential to establish an trodes produce increased current densities electrostatic field therebetween, at least a portion (microamperes/cmfi) with decreased electrode of said gaseous substance being disposed between spacings. Within the range covered by these said electrodes; anclia phosphor coatin on at test runs and the limitations of the phosphor least a portion of one of said electrodes and in employed, the increase is more than six times. contact with said gaseous substance, said phos- In general, the efiiciency of transformation of phor being excitable by said ionizing radiation to the electromagnetic energy of X-rays or other produce ultra violet radiation. ionizing radiations into electrical energy has 5. An ionization chamber as defined in claim been increased remarkably by the invention 3,'in which said phosphor is a material excitable through use of a source of supplementary radia- 40 by X-rays to produce relatively large quantities tion Within the ionization chamber. Instead of of radiation in the ultra violet range. allowing the majorityof'the incident rays to es- 6. An ionization chamber as defined in claim cape encountering molecules of the" ionizable 4, in which said phosphor is a material excitable gas, my invention allows theuseful absorption of by X-rays to produce relatively large quantities a much greater proportion of such incident rays. of radiation in the ultra violet range. Ionizing radiations are thus efiiciently' trans- '7. In a device for exposing'a gaseous substance formed into electrical currents which may be to an ionizingradiation, the combination of an utilized for any purpose, e. g., they may be eminterstitial electrode structureadapted to be disploy'ed as an index of the intensity of the inciposed in the path of said ionizing radiation, said dent ionizingradiation. I v 5 interstitial electrode structure being coated with' Various modifications may be made in the exa phosphor, said phosphor beingex'citable by said emplary embodiments disclosed hereinabove ionizing radiation to produce ultra violet radiawithout departing from the spirit of the "invention; and means for establishing anelectrostatic tion as defined in'the appended claims. field adjacent said interstitial electrode struc- I claim as-myinvention': ture.

1. In ,an apparatus for determining the in- 8'. In a "device for measuring the intensity of tensityof an ionizingradiation', the combination an ionizing radiation, the combination of a housof a pair of electrodes bounding a space coning adapted to receive incident ionizing radiataining a gaseous substance and adapted to be tion from a beam thereof; a relatively dense gasenergized by a source of potential to maintain an eous substance in said housingto receive and inelectric held in said space; and. a phosphor in tercept a portion of said incident radiation to contact'with said gaseous substance in said space produce ions; a phosphor in said housing in conin a position to be exposed to the incident ion-, tact with said gaseous substance to receive and izing radiation, said phosphor bei'ng'excitable by intercept another portion of said incident radia said ionizing radiation to produce ultra violet tion, said phosphor being excitable by such radia radiation. f Y tion to'produce' a supplementary ionizing radia- 2. An ionization chamber for exposing a gasetion emitted from said phosphor to produce adous substance to an'ionizing radiation, said ionditionalions in said gaseous substance; and i tion' h m er in din a ho sin for d means for establishing an electrostatic field in gaseous Substance; a phosphor Within said houssaid gaseous substance to accelerate said ions and ing incontact with said gaseous substance, said tabli h an ionization current, a D P I' excitable by S d onizing.radia- 9. An ionization chamber for the measurement t to p o a o t t o and means of intensity of an ionizing radiation, said 10mm r establishing an electric fieldln said housing. tion chamber including: a housing providing an 3. An ionization chamber for eXpoifig ag saxis and including-means for confining'a gaseous window traversing said axis for transmitting the ionizing radiation to the interior of said housing and to the gaseous substance therein; two electrode sets in said housing, each set comprising a plurality of tubular electrodes concentric with said axis, the tubular electrodes of one set bisecting the spaces between the tubular electrodes of the other set to provide a plurality of small-width inter-electrode spaces; means for insulating the electrode sets from each other whereby a high potential difference can be maintained therebetween to establish electric fields in said interelectrode spaces; and a coating of a phosphor on at least some of said tubular electrodes to receive incident radiation transmitted through said window, said phosphor being excitable by such radiation to produce ultra violet radiation and thus produce a supplementary ionizing radiation for ionizing said gaseous substance.

10. An ionization chamber as defined in claim 9 including means for insulating both electrode sets from said housing and including a pair of terminal means connected to said housing and conductors respectively connecting said terminal means to said electrode sets.

HAROLD D. ROOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,197,453 Hassler Apr. 16, 1940 2,383,478 Friedman et al Aug. 28, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 533,354 Germany Sept. 11, 1931 550,700 Germany May 17, 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Dement-Fluorochemistry, 1945, page 527.

(Copy in Div. 3;)

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,458,099. January 4, 1949. HAROLD D. ROOP It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 6, for X-ray read X-rays; column 6, line 35, in the table under the heading Phosphor Coating for OaWO read (Fa/W0 column 8, line 4, claim 3, for anud read and;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of May, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammissz'oner of Patents. 

